Parks proposal worries lawmakers

BOISE – The increase in user fees for Idaho state parks, a lengthy list of park repairs and the lack of a detailed business plan regarding Gov. Dirk Kempthorne’s $34 million state parks initiative led some Idaho state representatives to question the thoughtfulness of the proposal Tuesday.

“It’s a difficult thing to go forth building and doing new things when those of us who know what we haven’t been doing would like to see that done first,” Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, said during a presentation to the House Resources and Conservation Committee.

Kempthorne’s “Experience Idaho” proposal calls for renovations and additions to Idaho state parks, including a lodge at Ponderosa State Park and a new park somewhere in east Idaho.

In Washington, no major parks renovations are being proposed this year but a bipartisan effort is under way to eliminate controversial user fees that were adopted a few years ago. Supporters say it would boost use of state parks and end the practice of taxing people to maintain parklands they also have to pay additional “day fees” to enjoy.

North Idaho Rep. George Eskridge, R-Dover, said the absence of a business plan for the Ponderosa lodge and the fact that no site has been picked for the new park could lead to a higher price tag than expected. The new park is estimated to cost about $4.8 million.

“To me, I’m not sure how firm that estimate is and where that may lead us,” Eskridge said.

The proposed lodge might be run by a private company. That prompted House Minority Leader Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum, to question whether the people of McCall had been involved in the planning process.

Dean Sangrey, operations division administrator for the state Department of Parks and Recreation, said several public forums have been held and the overall public reaction was positive.

But Bell said the proposal seems rushed and neglects the repairs that have been needed at the parks for years.

“I think this is just kind of hitting us in the face, and as has been said, we have a backlog,” she said.

Sangrey estimated that backlog includes $18 million to $22 million in repairs at state parks. The Legislature’s request to fund the repairs is separate from the governor’s parks initiative, Dean said.

Jaquet also questioned the logic of expanding the park system rather than focusing on needed improvements at existing parks such as Henry’s Lake.

“I would rather put resources there or Dworshak or Hells Canyon, for instance, than trying to do some new projects,” she said.

Rep. Mike Moyle, R-Star, asked Sangrey to prepare a summary of how the fees for state parks could be affected by Kempthorne’s initiative, citing concerns with the rising costs of visiting an Idaho park.

“There’s really no reason to build more parks and there’s really no reason to have parks if the people that live here can’t afford to use them,” Moyle said.

Jaquet said not everyone sees the cost as a problem. She’s spoken with people from Washington who visit Idaho parks because of the low cost, she said.

Sangrey said the fees assessed at state parks are not unreasonable. “We really are not out of line with our neighboring states,” he said.